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U.S. Postal Service officials refuse to answer questions about a convicted criminal recently hired to oversee an Anson County post office.
Officials confirmed Wednesday that Beth Allen was hired as the Postmaster-Relief in November.
The move comes less than 10 months after Allen pleaded guilty to multiple counts of financial card fraud and forced to pay back nearly $3,000 in embezzled funds.
In February 2012, Eyewitness News first investigated Allen after she and her then-boyfriend Randall Baucom, were arrested by Union County Sheriff's deputies on 42 criminal counts including embezzlement, identity theft and using a government computer.
Allen worked for Union County Department of Social Services as a case worker in the EBT program, and investigators told Channel 9 at that time that she and Baucom conspired to steal nearly $3,000 worth of food stamps from the program.
Court records show Allen reached a plea deal with the prosecutor's office in February 2012 and avoided a prison sentence by agreeing to restitution of the stolen funds and pleading guilty to misdemeanor crimes.
Since then, residents in Anson County contacted Eyewitness News, concerned about Allen's new job, overseeing their post office in Ansonville.
"That's bad business," said one resident, Chuck Hildreth.
On Wednesday, Channel 9 found Allen at the post office, on the job, and asked her to explain how she was hired for the job, and if residents should be worried about her trustworthiness.
Allen declined to comment and referred Channel 9 to a USPS official, who hired her last month.
That employee then referred Eyewitness News to a regional USPS official, who would not answer specific questions and only said they could not discuss personnel issues related to hiring and selection procedures involving employees.
USPS officials also said they evaluate job applicants with criminal backgrounds on an individual basis.
Read our past coverage on Allen here.
Officials confirmed Wednesday that Beth Allen was hired as the Postmaster-Relief in November.
The move comes less than 10 months after Allen pleaded guilty to multiple counts of financial card fraud and forced to pay back nearly $3,000 in embezzled funds.
In February 2012, Eyewitness News first investigated Allen after she and her then-boyfriend Randall Baucom, were arrested by Union County Sheriff's deputies on 42 criminal counts including embezzlement, identity theft and using a government computer.
Allen worked for Union County Department of Social Services as a case worker in the EBT program, and investigators told Channel 9 at that time that she and Baucom conspired to steal nearly $3,000 worth of food stamps from the program.
Court records show Allen reached a plea deal with the prosecutor's office in February 2012 and avoided a prison sentence by agreeing to restitution of the stolen funds and pleading guilty to misdemeanor crimes.
Since then, residents in Anson County contacted Eyewitness News, concerned about Allen's new job, overseeing their post office in Ansonville.
"That's bad business," said one resident, Chuck Hildreth.
On Wednesday, Channel 9 found Allen at the post office, on the job, and asked her to explain how she was hired for the job, and if residents should be worried about her trustworthiness.
Allen declined to comment and referred Channel 9 to a USPS official, who hired her last month.
That employee then referred Eyewitness News to a regional USPS official, who would not answer specific questions and only said they could not discuss personnel issues related to hiring and selection procedures involving employees.
USPS officials also said they evaluate job applicants with criminal backgrounds on an individual basis.
Read our past coverage on Allen here.
WSOC
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